Whitehouse hires Cook as new coach

WHITEHOUSE — Adam Cook is officially the head football coach at Whitehouse High School.

Cook was unanimously approved for the post during a monthly board of trustees meeting Monday night at the WISD annex building. Cook, a seventh-year Wildcats coach who spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator, is thankful the process is over.

“We’ve moved forward in this process,” he said. “It’s been a long, drawn out thing for us since we found out last spring we were going in a new direction. In the football program we’ve just been telling people we are going to move forward.”

The meeting lasted more than four hours and also included contract renewal proceedings for other WISD employees. After Cook was approved by a 7-0 vote, everyone in the jam packed-room extended to him their congratulations.

School board president Howard Patterson even joked: “No pressure,” he said.

“We’re glad for the process to be over,” WISD assistant superintendent and athletic director Richard Peacock said. “My committee and I spent lots of hours going through the process and we feel confident and comfortable in the decision we made. We feel like we have the right person to lead our football program.”

Cook takes over for longtime Whitehouse coach Randy McFarlin, whose contract wasn’t renewed past this school year despite leading the Wildcats to seven consecutive postseasons. Whitehouse tied a school record for wins last fall, during which the Wildcats went 10-2 and almost upset Class 4A Division I state semifinalist John Tyler for the District 16-4A championship.

Cook, 35, has guided one of the state’s most prolific offenses as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, during which time he’s helped develop standout quarterbacks such as Brady Attaway, Hunter Taylor and current Wildcats QB Patrick Mahomes.

He’s overseen Whitehouse’s offseason program this winter, meaning the transition into his new role should go rather smoothly.

“I feel very blessed to now serve in this capacity,” Cook said. “My wife and I are glad to get to stay in this community. Whitehouse is a special, special place.”